Mid-sized, brownish-orange brushfoots that are often tinged pinkish and that are slightly larger on average, with a stronger flight, than American Ladies.

Habitat

Any open area.

Flight Period

Throughout warm weather.

Caterpillar Foodplants

Especially fond of thistles (Cirsium) but uses a wide variety of plants in many plant families.

Other Notes

Painted Ladies are perhaps the most widely distributed butterfly in the world, occuring in North and South America, Eurasia and Africa. Abundance levels vary dramatically from year to year, probably dependent upon rainfall levels during the winter in northern Mexico.